Speaking of hotly contested races, there's a big one brewing in Brooklyn for the state Assembly.

Assemblywoman Joan Millman announced recently that she would be stepping down from her post, leaving a rare open seat in the state legislature that wasn't the result of an elected official seeking a new post (or worse yet, stepping down in disgrace!).

And Millman has already handpicked her successor in Jo Anne Simon, who has served as Democratic district leader since 2004, and in 2009 ran an unsuccessful campaign for City Council, despite receiving the endorsement of the New York Times. This time around, in addition to the departing incumbent, Simon has the support of Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez.

You would assume that with all of that political heft behind her, Simon would have little to worry about in challenger Pete Sikora, a political newbie.

But Sikora isn't just rolling over; he's got some big names behind him, too. At his campaign announcement on July 1, he was joined by councilmen Brad Lander and Steve Levin and State Senator Daniel Squadron, who are all supporting him.

It looks like we've got an old-fashioned political showdown brewing in Brooklyn as well.